Ferraro



F. FERRARO VANITY CASE Feb. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1952 INVENTOR. flv/?% FEM/2W '0 BY Z Z 2 Feb. 14, 1956 FERRARO 2,734,517

VANITY CASE Filed Aug. 6, 1952 2 SheetsSheet 2 United States PatentO VANITY CASE Frank Ferraro, Baltimore, Md.

Application August 6, 1952, Serial No. 302,902 Claims. ((21. 13283) This invention relates to vanity cases and more particularly to a compact'of improved design and construction embodying various desirable features not found in present day compacts.

The modern womans beauty accessories usually comprise a compact having powder and rouge compartments, a lipstick, a comb, a file and sometimes a small bottle of perfume. These items are usually carried loosely as individual units in her pocketbook where they occupy considerable space, are not easily accessible, and are easy to lose.

The present invention is directed to an improved vanity case which incorporates in one unit the usual compact and also means incorporating the various other items which the owner may need. A vanity case of this type, to be in large demand, must be compact though containing numerous compartments, must be readily serviceable, and above all must be extremely attractive.

Thus, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an extremely attractive vanity case incorporating in a single unit the feminine accessories which are usually found separately.

Although the vanity case of the present invention may be constructed of metal including the precious metals without losing some of its desirable features, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a compact which can be plastic molded and hence manufactured with relative ease at moderate cost. The cover portion of the compact may be made of transparent plastic thereby forming a window through which decorative material on the interior of the compact may be viewed thereby greatly enhancing the decorative effect of the compact. The preferred design of the compact is in the shape of a heart which also contributes to the attractiveness of the compact.

A still further object of the present invenion is to provide a novel arrangement of compartments for housing the various feminine accessories previously mentioned.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel clip arrangement for retaining a comb in the cover portion of the compact.

Additional objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a. top plan view of the vanity case forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the vanity case showing the interior of the case.

Figure 3 is an expanded detailed view of the hinge arrangement between the cover and base.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the interior of the completed case.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional detailed view of the latch mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the unit constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally 2,734,517 Patented Feb. 14, 1956 by the reference numeral 10 and is seen to comprise a base 11, a lid or cover 12, and a pivoted mirror frame 13.

Referring first to the base 11, that member is preferably solid of a material such as molded plastic, although metal can be used in its place. It is provided with an upstanding wall 14 having a reduced marginal rim 15 for a purpose to be described. Molded integrally into base 11 are a plurality of compartments indicated by the numerals 16, 17, 18 and 19. Compartment 19, as seen in Figure 4, contains a lipstick and a nail file 21. Compartment 16 contains a small bottle of perfume 22. Compartment 17 serves as a rouge compartment while compartment 18 serves as a powder compartment. A pair of pivoted lids 23 and 24 for each of these latter compartments are suitably hinged by a single hinge pin 25 to the wall between the two compartments in order that spilling of the contents of these compartments is prevented. The usual puffs are housed in these compartments.

The cover or lid 12 is formed With a pair of hinge knuckles 26 which cooperate with hinge knuckles 27 on the base 11 for hinging the cover to the base. The mirror frame 13 which will be described in detail below, is also provided with a pair of hinge knuckles 28, and a pivoted retainer 29 includes a hinge knuckle 30, all of the various hinge knuckles mentioned above having a hinge-pin opening to receive a common hinge pin 31. I

The cover or lid 12 is formed of transparent plastic and is so proportioned as to embrace the rim 15 on the base and forming a flush wall with the base wall 14. The mirror frame 13 consists of a backing member 32 formed of metal, the outer surface of which may be plain or decoratively embossed whereby the decorative surface may be "iewed through the transparent lid. A mirror 33 is held against the backing member by a ring 34 which in turn is clamped to the backing ring by suitable lugs 35 formed on the edge of the backing member.

The flexible retainer 29 is adapted to retain a comb 36 in the lid portion of the case and is held in position by a lug 37 formed on the lid. The comb is removed by moving the free end of the flexible retainer 29 a slight distance in a transverse direction from under the lug 37.

A suitable latch mechanism is provided for locking the lid against the base. At the front end of the base opposite the hinged portion, an opening 38 is provided in the upstanding wall 14 through which a finger piece 39 extends. The finger piece 39 is carried by a spring member 40 secured to the inner surface of the wall 14 adjacent the opening 38 and tends to bias the finger piece outwardly. An upstanding catch portion 41 is formed adjacent the finger piece and cooperates with a catch 42 mounted on the cover or lid 12 as seen in Figure 6. It will be apparent that pressure against the finger piece 39 will release the latch and permit raising of the lid.

The use of the vanity case described above is believed to be clear. In its normal closed position the unit is illustrated in Figure 1 which illustrates the attractive heart shaped configuration of the compact. As previously pointed out, the cover or lid is transparent and the backing member 32 can have a design embossed thereon to be viewed through the cover. Should the owner desire, a picture or photograph can be inserted between the backing member and cover and this is made possible by the fact that the backing member is hinged in place.

While the particular embodiment of the invention here' in shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A vanity case comprising a base formed with an upstanding peripheral wall, a cover pivotally connected to said upstanding peripheral Wall, a mirror supporting frame receivable in said cover and pivotally connected to said peripheral wall, and a flexible retainer member having one end pivotally connected to said upstanding peripheral wall and-having its opposite end cooperating with a catch on the cover to retain a comb in the cover member.

2. A vanity case comprising a base formed with an upstanding peripheral wall, partition members integrally formed with said wall and defining a plurality of compart ments, a cover pivotally connected to said upstanding peripheral wall, a mirror supporting frame receivable in said cover and pivotally connected to said peripheral wall, and a flexible retainer member having one end pivotally connected to saidupstanding peripheral wall and having its opposite and cooperating with a catch on the cover to retain a comb in the covermember.

3-. A vanity case comprising a base formed with an upstanding peripheral Wall, partition members cooperating with said Wall to form a plurality of pockets, a transparent cover pivotally connected to said upstanding wall, a mirror supporting frame receivable in said cover and pivotally connected to said upstanding peripheral Wall whereby decorative material may be placed betweenlthe mirror frame and the cover to be visible through the cover, and a flexible retainer member having one end pivotally connected to said peripheral wall and having its opposite end cooperating with a catch on the cover to retain a comb in the cover member.

4. A vanity case comprising a plastic molded base formed with an upstanding peripheral wall, partition members integrally formed with said Wall and defining a plurality of compartments, two of said compartments being provided with pivoted lids, a transparent cover pivotally connected to said upstanding wall, a mirror supporting frame receivable in said cover and pivotally connected to said peripheral Wall whereby decorative material may be placed between the mirror frame and the cover to be visible through the cover, and a flexible retainer member having one end pivotally connected to said peripheral wall and having its opposite end cooperating with a catch on the cover to retain a comb in the cover.

5. A vanity case as defined in claim 4, and a single pivot pin pivotally connecting the cover, the frame member and the flexible retainer member to the upstanding peripheral wall.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,342,178 Miller June 1, 1920 1,853,902 Kaplan Apr. 12, 1932 2,041,260 Morrison May 19, 1936 2,421,646 Pepin June 3, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 337,509 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1930 425,533 GreatlBrit-ain Mar. 15, 1935 

